A Little Security

A number of years ago I read a story about children who were found in an orphanage at the end of World War II. They had suffered from a lack of material things during the war. They were undernourished and dressed in rags. Once the town was liberated material things were still in short supply, but those in charge made a special effort to see that the children had enough to eat and proper clothing. Yet, weeks went by and the children didn't seem to be doing any better. They weren't gaining weight. They still suffered from nightmares. The adults weren't sure what they could or should do. Finally someone got the bright idea to give each child a biscuit before bedtime. If they ate the biscuit, they were given a second one to hold during the night. The effect was almost immediate. The children began to sleep better. They started gaining weight. More and more smiles were seen.

When asked about it the adults surmised that the even though the children were well fed now, subconsciously they weren't sure that they'd have anything to eat tomorrow. After all, there world was fine before the war came. The simple fact that they went to sleep with a biscuit in their hand or beside them on their pillow told them that they'd have something to eat tomorrow. Just that little bit of security made all the difference to them and changed the way they saw the world.

I think that adults are like that, too. If we don't know how we'll make our next car payment there's a heightened level of stress. Add a ballooning credit card balance and we'll begin to lose sleep (just like the kids). But give us a small savings account and we sleep like babies. It's a lesson that we all could benefit from learning.

In this week's Dollar Stretcher you'll find a story that shows how one generation can pass a biscuit to the next generation. You'll find it at <http://www.stretcher.com/stories/08/08feb04f.cfm>. Now that's a real gift. Passing on a sense of security to your children. It doesn't get much better than that.

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About Gary

For more than 25 years, Gary Foreman has worked to manage money effectively. Prior to starting The Dollar Stretcher, he was a financial planner and purchasing manager.
While helping clients manage their hard earned money as a financial planner, he applied commonsense, time-tested techniques during the turbulent 1980’s. The experience convinced him that you didn’t need to hit the lottery to accumulate significant wealth.
Following that, Gary had an opportunity to learn more about how to get the best value for a dollar spent in the corporate world. As the Purchasing Manager for a computer manufacturer, he was responsible for supervising over $10 million in annual purchases.
Gary began The Dollar Stretcher website <www.TheDollarStretcher.com> and newsletters in April 1996. Over 300,000 readers benefit from the time and money saving ideas presented in The Dollar Stretcher newsletters each week. His mission is to help people "Live Better for Less".
He also provides private label newsletters for companies wishing to provide money saving information for their clients and/or prospects.
Gary lives in Florida along with his wife of thirty years and their two children. Much of his time is spent working with the men's ministry of his church. One of their ongoing projects is the "Holy Smoke BBQ" which sells bbq on Friday nights with the profits going to support local foster kids and orphans.
When he has a free moment you’ll find him restoring a Checker station wagon nicknamed “Two Ton” or cruising in a '65 Impala SS Convertible with doo-wops playing in the background.

Dollar Stretcher, Inc. does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for his or her own situation.